title: On the nature of anomalous rectification in thalamocortical neurones of the cat ventrobasal thalamus in vitro.
abstract: 1. Intracellular sharp electrode current clamp and discontinuous single electrode voltage clamp recordings were made from thalamocortical neurones (n = 57) of the cat ventrobasal thalamus in order to investigate the mechanism underlying anomalous rectification. 2. Under current clamp conditions, voltage-current (V-I) relationships in a potential range of -55 to -110 mV demonstrated anomalous rectification with two components: fast rectification, which controlled the peak of negative voltage deviations, and time-dependent rectification. Time-dependent rectification was apparent as a depolarizing sag generated during the course of negative voltage deviations, was first formed at potentials in the range -60 to -70 mV, and was sensitive to 3 mM Cs+ (n = 6). Similarly, under voltage clamp conditions, instantaneous and steady-state I-V relationships demonstrated anomalous rectification. A slowly activating inward current with an activation threshold in the range of -65 to -70 mV formed time-dependent rectification. This current was sensitive to Cs+ (3 mM) (n = 3) and had properties similar to the slow inward mixed cationic current (Ih). 3. 4-(N-Ethyl-N-phenylamino)-1,2-dimethyl-6-(methylamino)-pyrimidinium++ + chloride (ZD 7288) (100-300 microM) irreversibly blocked time-dependent rectification mediated by Ih (n = 23 of 25 neurones), and led to a hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential (6.8 +/- 0.5 mV). In the presence of ZD 7288, V-I and I-V relationships, exhibited fast anomalous rectification, first activated from potential more negative than -80 mV. 4. Ba2+ (100 microM) (n = 8), in the continuous presence of ZD 7288, reversibly linearized peak V-I and instantaneous I-V relationships over a potential range of -70 to -120 mV, and led to a membrane depolarization (13.3 +/- 4.2 mV) or tonic inward current (192 +/- 36 pA). 5. The co-application of ZD 7288 and Ba2+ revealed a depolarizing sag in negative voltage deviations under current clamp conditions, or a large inward current with kinetics two to three times slower than those of Ih under voltage clamp conditions. This novel form of time-dependent rectification was first apparent at potentials more negative than about -85 mV, was sensitive to 5 mM Cs+ (n = 4), and is termed Ih,slow. Ih,slow tail currents reversed between -65.3 and -56.6 mV (with potassium acetate electrodes, n = 3) or -57.6 and -50.3 mV (with KCl electrodes, n = 3). 6. Computer simulations confirmed that the pattern of anomalous rectification in thalamocortical neurones of the cat ventrobasal thalamus is mediated by the concerted action of Ih and a Ba(2+)-sensitive current with properties similar to an inwardly rectifying K+ current (IKIR).
authors.affiliation: Physiology Unit, School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, University of Wales Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crunelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D011743:Pyrimidines; C082246:ICI D2788; D001464:Barium